Title:  Beneath Your Beautiful

Author: Tamsyn Bester

Release Date: July 22, 2013
Toski Covey at Toski Covey Photography: https://www.facebook.com/toskicoveyphotography?fref=ts
Sommer Stein Perfect Pear Creative:

https://www.facebook.com/PerfectPearCreative?fref=ts

Cover Models:
Lexie Lynn Cain & Carson Fields

On the outside, Huntley Morgan is your typical girl-next-door, with her long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, and that’s exactly what she wants people to see. Her name exposes her to the demons of her past but remembering her reason for moving across the country to start over is what keeps her alive. For the first time since the brutal murder of her mother, Huntley allows herself to care about the people around her.
Grayson Carter has everything a 21yr old College Senior could wish for – he’s the star of Whitley University’s football team, he has a different girl willing to be in his bed every night and a supportive family. For years he has managed keep his family together and hide their dark secrets from the small town of Breckinridge, Alabama.
When Huntley and Grayson meet, a force so strong pulls them together in a hurricane of feelings neither of them could have ever anticipated. Huntley and Grayson try to stay away from each other, but when Huntley’s demons seek her out, their pasts become the biggest storm of all.
Will they learn to trust each other and build a new future together or will they simply do nothing to prevent history from repeating itself?

Moments later, Mrs. Coach calls me inside to help carry out the remainder of the food when there’s a knock at the door. It’s so soft I’m almost sure I imagined it. “Grayson honey, please grab the door,” Mrs. Coach calls from the kitchen. I walk to the door but when I open it, I’m completely unprepared for what’s in front of me.  Or rather who is in front of me.

Huntley is wearing a coral sundress with matching pumps. The color accentuates her sun-kissed skin, making it look like she’s glowing.

Her hair is curled and left loose, hanging down past her shoulders. My eyes stop at her lips, pink and glossy. I stand there like an idiot and shamelessly drink her curves in.

She clears her throat and for a brief second I’m lost in the depth of those sapphire-colored irises. I have never seen stormy blue eyes until now.  They tell a story, about what I’m not sure, but it’s there, in those stormy depths and I want to find out what it is.

“Hi,” she whispers. Her musical voice moves through my body and jolts me from my daze.

“What are you doing here?” The words are out of my mouth before I realize what I’m saying. Hurt flashes across her face at the sound of my accusatory tone and I want to kick myself in the nuts for being such an ass. It just goes to show what being around this gorgeous girl does to me.

“This is my family,” she states matter-of-factly, “I was invited.”

Of course she was invited. Coach Morgan is her uncle after all.

Thank you Captain Obvious…

Dumbass…

“Sorry, of course, come in,” I barely choke the words out and gesture for her to come in. I catch a trace of her perfume and almost lose my mind. God, I love strawberries and vanilla. She giggles and I realize I said that out loud.

Are you fucking kidding me? Could this get any worse?

Huntley pauses in front of me and smiles. It’s enough to steal the air right out of my lungs.

“Strawberries and vanilla are my favorite too,” she whispers. She stretches onto the balls of her feet to place a feather-light peck on my cheek. I can feel the heat surface in my cheeks and it’s the first time ever that a girl makes me blush.

We have 3 Bonus Scenes!!!!

Please do not read if you haven’t read the book……

~ Huntley ~

Grayson turns his back to me and walks out the hospital room. I bite the inside of my mouth to stop myself from calling out to him, telling him I’m sorry for chasing him away. But the door shuts and the metallic taste of blood meets my taste buds.

What have I done?

How could this happen?

I mentally retrace the last few weeks trying to determine when Grayson and I could’ve possibly conceived a baby. I frown. When did we…?

Oh.

The night I told him about Jake and my mother. That was the first time we didn’t use protection, and if the nurse is right about how far along I am, then our baby was conceived that night.

I slide further down the hospital bed, wincing when my ribs protest. My whole body aches. My heart does too. I curl onto my side, and before I realize what I’m doing, my hand comes to rest on my belly and the invisible bump.  Our baby.  My eyes start to burn but instead of willing the tears away, I allow them to flow freely. I squeeze my eyes shut, wishing with all my might that I hadn’t asked Grayson to leave. Because I need him now. I need him to tell me it will all be ok. I need to hear that he loves me, and now our growing baby too. The thought of losing him makes me cry harder.

A few minutes later, the nurse comes in to check my vitals. She says something about giving me medicine for the pain but nothing she says means enough for me to listen. The kind of pain I feel can’t be remedied with medicine anyway. I open my sore, swollen eyes and watch as she administers a clear liquid into my I.V.  I have no idea what it is but I’m too tired to ask. The pain I feel in my ribs and my face starts to fade and my eyes grow heavy as I slip further and further into unconsciousness. All physical pain is gone. Except for my heart. It won’t stop hurting until Grayson is here.

But he’s not.

I sent him away.

** ** ** ** **

When the doctor is satisfied that I’m ready to go home, my Aunt drives me home. After two days of being in a crappy hospital bed, all I want is to take a hot shower in my own bathroom and sleep in my own bed. Aunt Em doesn’t protest. She simply drives me to my apartment and goes about making me some food while I stand under a stream of hot water. I thought coming back here after what happened with Jake would be harder, but I’m too consumed with missing Grayson to care. I shouldn’t miss him, I know that. I was the one who asked him to leave and I’ve berated myself over and over again for being so stupid and selfish. I pushed him away when I needed him the most. Demi made that clear too, when she yelled at me for over an hour yesterday. Not that I heard much. I was too numb.

When my skin has pruned, I step out of the steam-filled shower and wrap a fluffy towel around my body. I avoid the mirror, afraid to see the bruises I know are still there. I touch my belly, a new habit I have, and imagine what our little jelly bean looks like. The doctor told me it’s a wonder that I’m still pregnant after the way Jake hit my ribs. He’s a fighter, just like his daddy I say to myself. It’s still too early to determine the sex but I know it’s a boy, I can feel it. I slip into a pair of sweats and pull one of Grayson’s shirts over my head. His scent lingers and I sniff the fabric, breathing it in until my lungs are filled with it.  

I walk down the hallway towards the kitchen but stop when I hear my Uncle’s voice. “Do you think we should just tell her?” he asks, obviously speaking to my Aunt. He must’ve arrived while I was in the shower. “We can’t keep it from her,” my Aunt replies. “But I don’t know if now’s the right time. She’s already been through so much, and I don’t want to upset her now that she has a baby to think about.” My Aunts’ voice breaks and I hear her sniffle. I’ve been so caught up in my own feelings that I haven’t considered how the last few days have affected her. My curiosity gets the better of me, so I walk into the kitchen where my Uncle is comforting my Aunt.

“What do you need to tell me?” I ask.

They both jump and my Uncle’s head whips around. “Hey sweetheart,” he greets gently. “Are you feeling alright?”

“I feel better, thank you.” I pause, waiting for either of them to say something. When they remain quiet, I continue, “What do you need to tell me Uncle Alex?”

My Uncle looks at my Aunt, who nods her consent. When his gaze falls on me again he looks sad. “Come with me into the living room sweetheart,” he says. I follow behind him and take a seat on the couch as he perches himself on the coffee table in front of me. He takes my hands in his and rubs them. I have a bad feeling about this. “Is it Grayson?” I ask, slightly panicked.

“No, he’s fine.” My Uncle hesitates before continuing. “It’s about Jake. I got a call this morning from the police department.” He swallows hard. “Jake died last night. He killed himself while he was in police custody.”

I stare at my Uncle, waiting for the tears to come. When they do, the only feeling that registers is relief. I thought I loved Jake, but I was young and naïve. I didn’t know what love is until I met Grayson. My Aunt sits down next to me and when her arms wrap around my shoulders, I cry. I let go of Jake and all the hurt he caused, and the past that continues to be tainted by him.

It’s over.

He can’t hurt me anymore.

~ Grayson ~

I lean against the cool glass of the balcony doors, overlooking the south side of the university campus. It’s just gone 2am but I see lights flickering in all the neighbouring buildings. Technically, it’s my graduation day, and I should be sleeping, but my mind is too busy. So much has happened and I almost can’t believe how lucky I am. I want to believe that everything that has gone wrong in my life has led me here, to this point. To Huntley. And our son.

Huntley’s soft, sleepy voice pulls me back to the present. “Grayson?”

I spin around. She’s standing a few feet away, yawning, and looking sexy as hell in one of my shirts that hug her pregnant belly. “What are you doing up, baby?” I ask, closing the distance between us. She looks up at me sleepily. “You weren’t in bed,” she says quietly. “And our little man is restless.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep.” I kiss her forehead and wrap my arms around her.

“Ow,” she yelps, rubbing her belly. “That one hurt.”

Until now, Huntley’s pregnancy has been fairly easy, but the baby has been moving around a little more. Huntley has two weeks left but I have a feeling she’ll go in to labour sooner.

“Let’s get you two back into bed.” I take her hand in mine and lead her back to the bedroom. I pull the duvet back and climb into the bed, sitting against the headboard. I pat the space between my legs, motioning for Huntley to join me. She crawls into bed and settles herself, her back to my chest. Wordlessly, she takes both of my hands and places them on her belly. As if the baby knows it’s me, his little foot moves and I feel it under my palm. “Wow,” I breathe. “That was a strong one.”

“I know,” Huntley yawns. “He doesn’t want me to sleep.”

I feel another kick and Huntley flinches. As amazing as this moment is, feeling my son kick my palm, I don’t like that it hurts Huntley. “I’m sorry baby,” I whisper into her hair. “But it’s not long and he’ll be here.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Huntley says softly, resting her hands on my thighs. “I hope he looks just like his daddy.”

I chuckle. “As long as he’s healthy, I don’t mind who he looks like.”

Huntley yawns again, nodding her head. “Close your eyes,” I tell her. “Just relax.”

I rub her belly gently, humming a slow song, and feel her body relax when the baby stills. “He likes your voice,” Huntley murmurs.

I smile, envisioning a little blonde haired boy with blue eyes. I thought I would be scared, being a father so young, but I’m not. After watching our child grow inside of Huntley, I realize that I want this. More than anything.

~ Huntley ~

I walk into the bathroom, wearing nothing but my pink lace underwear. Grayson steps out of the shower and I take the chance to openly stare at his wet, naked form. I lick my lips, watching how his muscles flex and stretch under his skin. When he grabs a towel, wrapping it around his waist, I hold back a groan in protest, not ready for the show to end. He looks up and grins wickedly when he catches me staring.

“You need something baby?” he asks innocently. He closes the gap between us until we’re standing chest-to-chest and I have to look up to meet his heated gaze.

“Yes,” I breathe. “You.”

His left eyebrow arches. “You had me this morning,” he chuckles.

“I know.”  I pout. “But that was hours ago and you just look so good when you’re naked and wet.” I rest my hands on his chest and start teasing his nipples until they harden under my fingertips.

“Pregnancy has made you greedy,” he chuckles again. I slide my hands over his pecs, down his stomach and stop when I feel the towel, all the while staring into his eyes. I pull his towel off and slowly wrap my hand around his solid length. He sucks in a breath and I grin in satisfaction. I slide my hand up and down, starting at the base of his cock and ending at the tip. I do it again but only make it half way when Grayson wraps his hand around mine. his penetrating gaze intensifies and I shiver. We spent the entire afternoon with our families, after finding out the sex of our baby, and I need him to understand that I need him. Right. Now.

“Grayson,” I whisper, my voice husky. “Take me.”

His lips crash onto mine, his arms lifting me as I wrap my legs around his waist. He lays me on the bed gently and I almost roll my eyes. He’s been too gentle, afraid we’ll somehow hurt the baby. I, on the other hand, have other plans for tonight. And slow and gentle is not part of the plan.

Grayson’s hands slide behind my back and he unclips my bra, sliding it down my arms. His mouth wraps around my nipple and I arch my back, the sensitivity heightened. While his mouth moves across to my other breast, his hands make quick work of my panties. Instead of sliding them down, like he normally does, he rips them and throws them haphazardly to the floor. His fingers slip between my legs, finding the place they’re looking for. Wet, and so fucking ready. I moan into his mouth. One finger slips in and then another. Grayson’s fingers move quickly and when I’m sure I’m about fall over the edge, his fingers are withdrawn. “What”- my words get caught in my throat when Grayson slides into me. I moan deeply, rocking my hips and meeting his eager thrusts. I reach behind Grayson’s back and pull him to me, digging my nails into his shoulder blades. His hot ragged breathes flow over my shoulders and I’m turned on even more by the sounds he makes. My hands slide down his back, tracing every plane and every crevice, and I grab hold of his butt. The way it tightens and releases with every movement is enough to make me delirious. “So good,” he says, breathlessly. “So fucking good.”

“Oh God, Grayson, please,” I beg between pants. He increases momentum and the familiar waves crash over us, one after the other in perfect harmony. He swallows my scream, rocking into me, and then grunts his own release. Our bodies still. Our chests heave as we come back down from the most intense high imaginable. Grayson lifts his head, his forehead damp, and his eyes connect with mine. “I can’t wait for the next 7 and a half months,” he says. “If it’s going to be like that every time, we may never leave this bed.”

“Good,” I laugh, rolling over until I’m straddling him. “Because I’m ready…again.”

 I had the honor to read this while it was a work in progress, plus again once it was complete and immediately fell in love with Huntley and Grayson.  Tamsyn’s writing style is so captivating and I was drawn in from the very beginning, needing to know what would happen next.  The story was full of twists and turns and I found myself rooting for Huntley and Grayson to heal their broken souls.  It’s no secret that I love a good heart-wrenching story and that is exactly what I found in this book.  I love a book that can evoke several emotions from me.  I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed some very steamy love scenes. 

Huntley is such a strong female lead. To deal with everything she has experienced in her past and come through it with such grace is so refreshing.  Grayson is that strong and sexy southern man who really makes a girl drool. I loved that both characters did not let their past define them and fought to overcome it.  I also loved the side story and drama with their two best friends, Brody and Demi.  While they are fantastic characters with a great story line, they did not over shadow Huntley and Grayson but left you wanting more of their story.  There is a fine line between invoking interest in the secondary characters story and overtaking the lead story.  Tamsyn executed this perfectly.

All in all this is a fantastic book and an amazing debut for Tamsyn Bester!

4.5****

♥ Sophie

1. The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
2. Love Story – Taylor Swift
3. Holding Out For A Hero – Ella Mae Bowen
4. Barefoot Blue Jean Night – Jake Owen
5. I knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift
6. Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrynth ft Emile Sande
7. Red – Taylor Swift
8. Hard To Love –Lee Brice
9. Cruise – Florida Georgia Line ft Nelly
10. If I Die Young – The Band Perry
11. I Should’ve Kissed You (Goodnight) – Gloriana
12. Crazier – Taylor Swift
13. Between The Raindrops – Lifehouse ft Natasha Beddingfield
14. Before The Storm – Miley Cyrus ft Nick Jonas
15. Because You Live – Jesse McCartney
16. Why Ya Wanna – Jana Kramer
17. Whiskey – Jana Kramer
18. God Gave Me You – Blake Shelton
19. We Are Broken – Paramore
20. Gone – Phillip Phillips
21. Life Aint Always Beautiful – Gary Allen
22. God Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
23. Wanted – Hunter Hayes

 

Tamsyn is a 21 year old blogger turned author from South Africa who has an insatiable hunger for New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, coffee and chocolate. When she’s not getting caught up in yet another steamy romance with a new book boyfriend, she can be found spending endless hours working away on her laptop in pursuit of her Marketing degree and a career in book Publishing. Tamsyn is a Brat when it comes to books and believes that every story, no matter how challenging, should have a Happy Ever After. Tamsyn is currently hard at work on her debut novel Beneath Your Beautiful, set to be available July 2013.

           

 

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